Ladder for picking fruit, &amp;c.



J. W. STEVENSON. LADDER P0P. PIGKING FRUIT, 6:0.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1909.

Patented June 15, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JAMES W. STEVENSON, OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM SOIIOFIELD, OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

LADDER FOR PIOKING FRUIT, 850.

To all whom it "may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns W. STnvnNsoN, citizen of the United States, residing at Riverside, in the county of Riverside and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladders for Picking Fruit and for other Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ladders for picking fruits and for other purposes for which they may be intended; and the object of the invention is to provide a ladder wherein simplicity of construction, strength, economy and durability is attained, and when the parts become loosened from any cause they can be readily and conveniently tightened without splitting the rungs, as occurs in ladders of the ordinary construction.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts as will be hereinafter more in detail described, and the asserted novelty specifically claimed.

I have illustrated fully and clearly my invention in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 re resents a front elevation of my ladder with tfie parts assembled and adapted for use. Figs. 2 and 3 represent detached portions thereof upon an enlarged scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several figures.

A, A designates the legs, the lower portion of which in this example are slightly spread to which a multiple number of rungs B, B, B, B, B, B, are rigidly secured, these rungs being located at equal distances apart and provided upon their underside with grooves 12, b, b, b, b, 1), formed in the lower surface of the rungs near their ends.

0, C, C, designate bolts which are projected through the rungs B, B, B, B, B, B, and which lie up snugly against the underside thereof, their inner ends being bent up in a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 25, 1909.

Patented June 15, 1909.

Serial No. 479,972.

vertical direction and projected through said rungs and headed as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Then said bolts are passed around keys I) located in a series of grooves, the horizontal or longer end of the bolts being then projected through the stiles or legs of the ladder and secured by means of nuts E, E, E, or other suitable fastening means upon their outer ends, thus dispensing with grooves in the stiles or legs thereby preventing the weakening of the stiles and saving the strength of the same and allowing of the use of very light material. In lieu of the bolts, plate washers may be used, if preferred, upon the outside of the stiles or legs in connection with staples, said staples having their free ends provided with nuts, the plate washers being interposed between the nuts and stiles or legs. The advantage derived from the use of these keys is such that it admits of drawing up tightly the bolts Without splitting the rungs, and after the ladder has been in use some time and gets old and the rungs get loosened they can be firmly tightened.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is;

The combination with the legs of the ladder; of rungs provided upon their lower surfaces with grooves, keys engaging said grooves, and bolts located against the lower surfaces of the rungs having their inner ends bent up and projected through the rungs and bent around keys located at the bending point, the outer ends of the bolts being projected through the legs of the ladder and provided with nuts upon their free ends, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES W. STEVENSON.

Witnesses:

E. F. ASHORAFT, Geo. W. McOABE. 

